Is Mo Speights trade fodder for the Cleveland Cavaliers? Hey, Mary!

View full sizeMo Speights has been a force in a short period of time for the Cavaliers, but could the team get a big return on a deadline deal this month?Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Mary: With Mo Speights providing a spark for the bench, would the Cavs consider trading him before the deadline? Do you think they would only trade him if they could pick up another first-round pick? -- Mike Langshaw, North Royalton

Hey, Mike: The Cavs have made it clear they'll do whatever it takes to improve the team, and they're a willing trade partner because they have cap space and some expiring contracts, including Luke Walton's $6 million. They love acquiring first-round draft picks. But in my opinion, at some point they need to add some veterans. I would rather have a relatively young player like Speights, who is only 25, instead of drafting another youngster. However, if the Cavs believe Speights will opt out and try to get more than the $4.5 million due him on his existing contract, it would make sense to move him as they did with Ramon Sessions. They got a No. 1 pick in that deal, that became Tyler Zeller.

Hey, Mary: For the last several years I have noticed the names of two Brazilian players listed on mock drafts, Lucas Nogueira and Augusto Lima. They sound like interesting players who could be had in the second round. What do you or Varejao know about them and will they actually enter the draft this time? -- J. Smith, Rocky River

Hey, J: According to DraftExpress.com, the 20-year-old Nogueira is a 6-11, 215-pound center who is averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds for his Estudiantes team and is projected as a high second-round pick. Lima, 21, is a 6-10, 225-pound power forward (2.8 points, 2.5 rebounds) and projected as a low second-round pick. Both are represented by agent Dan Fegan, who represents Varejao. In addition, Varejao's brother, Sandro, works for Fegan. It's more than four months until the NBA draft. It's unclear what their plans are.

Hey, Mary: Can you explain to me why the Cavs didn't make a play for Rudy Gay [in the deal that landed Speights and Wayne Ellington]? I think he and Kyrie Irving would have made a nice 1-2 punch, plus they didn't get much in return. -- Lamarr Hankins, Cleveland

Hey, Lamarr: Gay is scheduled to make $16.4 million this season, $17.8 million in 2013-14 and a player option for $19.3 million in 2014-15. That's a lot of money and, frankly, Gay hasn't shown he's worth that. The Cavs have vowed to not add take on massive contracts that would limit their options in the free-agent market over the next couple of summers.

Also, I'd strongly disagree that they didn't get much back. Since the arrival of Speights, Ellington and Josh Selby, the Cavs are 4-2 and Speights has been their third-best player behind Irving and Tristan Thompson. Plus, they got a future guaranteed lottery pick. The last time they made a deal like that, the pick turned into Irving. All that for reserve Jon Leuer.

Hey, Mary: I really feel like Dion Waiters offers a lot of promise with the way he can knife through a defense and get his own shot. However, I am concerned about his demeanor on the court. He appears to be a selfish player and more concerned about his stats than a team win. Is he as poor of a teammate as it seems on TV? -- Kevin Klein, Brunswick

Hey, Kevin: I have not heard anyone complain about Waiters' demeanor. The Cavs are young and learning how to play with each other, and that's taking some time. But I don't think anyone considers him a bad teammate. That issue never came up during his time at Syracuse, either.

Hey, Mary: Do the Cavs have the rights to the Lakers' draft pick for the upcoming draft? I hope so because the Lakers might not even make the playoffs. -- Max Cleveland, East Cleveland

Hey, Max: The Cavs have their own first-round pick, Sacramento's first-round pick (top-13 protected), and Miami's first-round pick (top-10 protected). They also have the right to swap the Lakers' pick with the most favorable of those three picks (top-14 protected). The best case scenario for the Cavs is if the Lakers make the playoffs as the last seed, which would mean the Cavs would have the No. 15 pick in the draft. If the Lakers don't make the playoffs, the Cavs will be stuck with Miami's pick, likely late in the first round.

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